Former Judas Priest Guitarist K.K. Downing Is Really Wealthy

In a new interview with the Birmingham Post, former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing recalls purchasing his mansion, a 19th century home at Astbury Hall in Shropshire, England, which he picked up back in 1985. He dismissed reports that he left Priest in 2011 after nearly 40 years of service in the band so he could focus on running the golf courses installed on his property.

"I went and did what they all damn well do when suddenly you come into a bit of money and you go mad," he told Birmingham Post. He was happily a big home owner, saying, "The highlight when I came here was to get the keys to the house, but I was also delighted to get the keys to a barn where I could put my new Porsche Turbo."

Must be nice, right? He admitted, "Suddenly I went completely mad and wanted everything I had never had." That's what happens when you come into money, after working hard for it.

Downing also remembered "getting to know" his new property, saying, "When I came here I didn't care if it was big. I just thought I will find a use for every room, though initially it kind of felt like it wasn't mine and was all a bit of a dream. It had an antiquated alarm system that used to keep going off in the night. I used to walk around with my pellet gun. It was a very solemn and desolate place, particularly at night time - I could hear all sorts of things."